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Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

West Virginia’s largest bog is home to rare carnivorous plants.

Hillsboro, West Virginia

Added By
Virginia Brown
The boardwalk at Cranberry Glades.   Colin Viney / CC BY-SA 4.0
A carnivorous purple pitcher plant flower at Cranberry Glades.   ForestWander / CC BY-SA 3.0
Carnivorous pitcher plants live in these protected West Virginia bogs.   Monongahela National Forest
A grass pink orchid in bloom near the boardwalk in Cranberry Glades Botanical Area.   Monongahela National Forest
A beaver pond at Cranberry Glades Botanical Area.   Monongahela National Forest
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area in the fog.   ForestWander / CC BY-SA 3.0
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Deep in the Monongahela National Forest, in the western portion of West Virginia, lies one of the most botanically significant areas in the Appalachians: the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. 

The largest bog area in the state, "the Glades," as the area is more commonly called, is a 750-acre acidic wetland that mirrors the arctic tundra of Canada and the far north. 

Home to over 60 plant species, including carnivorous plants like the purple pitcher plant and sundew, plus mosses, lichens, and its namesake cranberries, the bog is made up of partially decayed plant material, known as peat, that makes the ground spongy.

Visitors can travel along the half-mile-long boardwalk to survey the diverse landscape, or explore any of the dozens of additional hiking trails that connect to the area.

Related Tags

Flora Carnivorous Plants Bogs Nature Preserves

Know Before You Go

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area is accessible from Route 39/150, north of the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. From Route 150, take Forest Service Road 102 north about a mile. The 1.5-mile boardwalk is wheelchair accessible.

Guided tours are available in summer. Contact the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center to schedule a tour. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Virginia Brown

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy

Published

May 14, 2024

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